In the face of increasing wildfire threats, particularly the recent devastating fires in Los Angeles, fire retardants like PHOS-CHEK® have become essential tools in protecting firefighters, properties, and communities.
Developed by Perimeter Solutions, PHOS-CHEK is a long-term fire retardant that has been instrumental in wildfire suppression efforts.
This interview aims to delve into the specifics of PHOS-CHEK, its application methods, and its effectiveness in combating wildfires.
In this interview with Jeff Emery, President of Global Fire Safety at Perimeter Solutions, discusses the company’s collaboration with various fire authorities through initiatives like the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) program.
This program involves partnerships with the Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Ventura County Fire Authorities, deploying a fleet of helicopters and a mobile retardant base to enhance aerial firefighting capabilities.
The discussion will provide insights into how such collaborations and advanced strategies are reshaping wildfire response and mitigation efforts.
Perimeter Solutions is a global leader in fire safety, specializing in innovative solutions that protect lives, property, and the environment from the devastating effects of wildfires.
We trace our roots back to 1963, when the USDA Forest Service first approved PHOS-CHEK® fire retardant for use in wildland firefighting.
For more than 60 years, we have been an industry leader in fire safety, serving as a trusted partner to the US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and fire management agencies worldwide.
Our mission is to help firefighters protect properties and save lives by equipping them with the most effective tools available to contain wildfires quickly and efficiently.
We are committed to continuous innovation, ensuring our products meet the highest standards for performance, safety, and environmental responsibility.
PHOS-CHEK is an advanced fire retardant engineered to slow or stop the spread of wildfires.
Its primary ingredient, ammonium phosphate, alters the way vegetation burns by forming a protective, non-flammable barrier on the surface of treated fuels.
As a fire approaches, PHOS-CHEK undergoes a chemical reaction that creates a heat-resistant, graphite-like carbon layer, depriving the fire of fuel and reducing its intensity.
Additionally, the water in the PHOS-CHEK slurry helps cool the flames, further aiding in suppression.
PHOS-CHEK remains active long after the initial drop, continuing to prevent ignition and fire spread until it is washed away by a significant rain event.
While PHOS-CHEK being dropped from aircraft during active wildfires has become a common sight for people around the world, there are times when conditions are not favorable for aerial firefighting.
Adverse weather such as high winds, visibility issues, and the lack of available airtankers all present challenges.
In these situations, ground-based fire retardant becomes a valuable tool for firefighters to help contain wildfire.
Incorporating ground-applied fire retardant into a firefighting toolbox enhances firefighter and public safety.
When firefighters deploy it, they are close to the action and can apply the retardant much more precisely than from the air.
During active fires, it isn’t uncommon for utility poles or power lines to catch on fire, which could then fall across a road, cutting off access and creating a dangerous scenario where residents and firefighters can’t escape.
Applying retardant in those areas can help prevent this while quickly and safely reinforcing ingress and egress routes.
Additionally, the retardant can help keep the power on for local communities.
Over the past decade, we have worked with utilities to apply retardant around substations and on power poles to prevent damage, a task that can be done much quicker and more targeted compared to dropping an entire load of retardant from aircraft.
PHOS-CHEK retardants consist primarily of ammonium phosphate or ammonium polyphosphate.
These ingredients function as the active fire retardant component in the composition.
Additionally, a fugitive red color is added, which provides the red/pink color seen in the retardant, and which fades in the weeks and months after the fire, once exposed to UV rays.
The purpose of this fugitive red is to provide the pilots with the best possible visibility of the retardant on the ground, so that they can create a contiguous line around the perimeter of the fire and not leave any gaps where the fire could escape.
PHOS-CHEK stands apart from other fire retardants due to its proven track record, superior performance, and ongoing innovation.
It is one of the most evaluated and trusted fire retardants available, having undergone extensive testing by the USFS.
Third party testing dating back more than 80 years has determined that ammonium phosphate is the most effective fire retardant chemical on the market.
Additionally, we continuously refine our formulations to enhance effectiveness while minimizing environmental impact.
With multiple product options, such as the powder-based PHOS-CHEK MVP-Fx and liquid concentrate PHOS-CHEK LCE20-Fx—PHOS-CHEK, we offer unmatched versatility for different fire management strategies.
Perimeter Solutions prioritizes environmental stewardship in every aspect of PHOS-CHEK’s development and application.
The USFS, in collaboration with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, issued two comprehensive Environmental Impact Statements in 2011 and 2024 after lengthy comment periods.
The agencies evaluated the potential ecological effects of aerial fire retardants, and their research confirmed that PHOS-CHEK can be safely used when applied according to best practices.
The USFS has created avoidance areas around waterways and endangered species habitats, where pilots are not to drop except when human life or public safety are threatened.
Over several decades, Perimeter Solutions has continued to innovate our products to minimize any impact on the environment, and PHOS-CHEK fire retardants do not contain any PFAS, nor any substances that are known to cause cancer or other harms under California Proposition 65.
Launched by the Orange County Fire Authority in conjunction with LA County Fire, Ventura County Fire, and Southern California Edison, the QRF is a groundbreaking firefighting initiative that dramatically improves response times and suppression capabilities.
This program integrates a fleet of large helicopters capable of rapidly deploying PHOS-CHEK retardant to active fire zones.
What makes the QRF unique is its ability to provide near-instantaneous aerial support to reinforce containment efforts and prevent small fires from escalating into major disasters.
While aerial firefighting has traditionally been limited to daylight hours, the QRF has changed that.
Over the past three years, the QRF has demonstrated the effectiveness of 24-hour aerial firefighting.
Using night-vision-equipped helicopters, these teams can continue retardant drops after dark, taking advantage of lower temperatures, reduced wind speeds, and decreased fire intensity.
These conditions allow firefighters to slow the fire’s advance before conditions worsen in the daytime.
Expanding nighttime firefighting capabilities could provide a critical advantage in wildfire suppression, allowing firefighters to get ahead of the fire to better protect communities before conditions worsen in the daytime.
By combining cutting-edge technology, strategic partnerships, and Perimeter Solutions’ industry-leading fire retardant, the QRF is transforming wildfire management.
Perimeter Solutions is deeply integrated into wildfire response efforts at every level, working hand-in-hand with federal, state, and local firefighting agencies, as well as military organizations, to optimize strategies and provide essential resources.
Our partnerships ensure that PHOS-CHEK retardants are always available where and when they are needed most.
Through extensive training programs and real-time collaboration, we help fire authorities maximize the effectiveness of aerial and ground-based suppression tactics.
Additionally, initiatives like the QRF further enhance response speed, ensuring that fire retardant applications are executed with precision and efficiency.
Perimeter Solutions’ MRB allows firefighting crews to mix up to 18,000 gallons of fire retardant an hour in close proximity to the wildfire.
This allows the helicopters used in the QRF to load fire retardant and get back to the fight more quickly.
Through the use of the QRF and Perimeter Solutions’ MRB, firefighters can turn around fire retardant in ways that the fixed wing airtankers are unable.
Since there is an MRB on standby 24 hours a day in Southern California, they move at the same time as the aircraft, which means they can set up quicker and that they are able to deliver that retardant that much faster.
The QRF has fundamentally changed the way California combats wildfires by delivering faster, more targeted fire suppression.
By deploying PHOS-CHEK-loaded helicopters at a moment’s notice, the QRF allows responders to contain wildfires in their early stages—often before they become large-scale emergencies.
In recent wildfire seasons, this capability has played a pivotal role in protecting homes, infrastructure, and natural landscapes.
The QRF program also enables operations at night, when conditions for firefighting are optimal, due to the cooler temperatures and overnight humidity recovery.
As wildfires grow more intense and frequent, the ability to adapt and respond quickly is essential to successful fire management.
Firefighting operations must be supported by a robust infrastructure that ensures fire retardant is consistently available, no matter the location.
Through a focus on research and innovation, we continuously improve both our products and services.
And we are committed to working with our industry partners to evolve our collective wildfire response to meet the growing threat, and to protect lives, property, and the environment.
When the devastating fires began in Southern California, Perimeter was there to support firefighting operations at a moment’s notice.
As wildfire risks continue to escalate, we remain steadfast in our commitment to deliver the solutions, resources, and expertise to support our firefighters into the future.
